A custom Molot Vepr 12 known as “The Phoenix” for sale on GunsAmerica.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is adding Molot-Oruzhie, OOO to the list of banned Russian and Ukrainian separatist companies. Molot makes the popular Vepr family of sporting rifles and shotguns, somewhat based on the AK design.
Molot is one of 38 individuals and entities that the department is adding to the ban list.
The move expands on the Obama-era sanctions against Russia, responding to Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian Crimea. The department first applied sanctions against the Kalashnikov Concern in 2014. In addition to military equipment, the Kalashnikov Concern produces the Saiga series of sporting arms. Saiga products are also similar to AK-pattern rifles.
“These steps are consistent with the U.S. commitment to seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine and to facilitate Crimea’s return to Ukraine,” stated the Treasury. “U.S. sanctions on Russia related to the situation in eastern Ukraine will remain in place until Russia fully honors its obligations under the Minsk Agreements.”
“U.S. sanctions related to Crimea will not be lifted until Russia ends its occupation of the peninsula.”
The department has accused Molot of acting as a front for the Kalashnikov Concern.
“Molot-Oruzhie is being designated for operating in the arms or related material sector of the Russian Federation and for acting or purporting to act for on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kalashnikov Concern.
“These designations will maintain pressure on Russia to work toward a diplomatic solution,” added Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This administration is committed to a diplomatic process that guarantees Ukrainian sovereignty, and there should be no sanctions relief until Russia meets its obligations.”
See Also: U.S. Ends Arms Embargo against Vietnam, Claims China not a Factor
This will have a significant effect on the American shooting community. Vepr products are popular with just about every segment of gun owners. They are in common use for competition shooting, hunting and self-defense.
Vepr shotguns, in particular, are frequently used for tactical shooting sports. There is a large aftermarket industry that caters to these guns and it will take a serious hit in the near and long term due to these new sanctions.
***BUY A VEPR NOW ON GUNSAMERICA***
The AK industry is already in a transition period due to the Saiga import ban. Molot was in the process of replacing Saiga as the leader in Russian-made AK products in the U.S. Many shooters consider Vepr as a higher-end alternative to Saiga. Vepr rifles and shotguns come in a wide variety of chamberings including .223 Remington, 7.62x39mm, .308 Winchester and shotgun shells up to 12 gauge.
With the largest foreign manufacturers of AK-style firearms banned from the U.S. market, American AK production is ramping up. This ban does not affect domestic production of AK-pattern rifles, pistols and shotguns.
This is a move against American gun owners. Won’t affect the Russians at all. What good did it do the Russians to
“collude” with the Trump administration. Crimea was always part of Russia until a transfer to Ukraine under the old USSR in the 1950’s. None of our concern. Just window dressing for an anti-gun, sell-out RINO Republican administration.
Can’t honestly say I am surprised that this is happening under Trump. He supported the AWB back in ’94, and since, only after he started running for the Presidency this last time did he change his tune – at least publicly. Leopards don’t change their spots though – I suspect by the end of his Presidency there will be more bans – either with imports or something similar to the AWB again.
I’ll be happy though if I am wrong.
Our industrial military complex has to have us believe in a boogeyman. Russia has had the title for quite awhile. With out a capable boogieman, we the citizens might begin to question the trillions we spend on defense. Eisenhower warned us and anyone that has served has bits and pieces of this humongous waste of our taxes.
Ukraine is Russia’s business NOT the U.S. There is a large segment of the Ukraine population that want to be annexed BACK to Russia.
I believe that someone needs to DIG into the Dept. of Treasury to root out some more SHADOW GOVERNMENT. Does anyone actually believe that barring the import of guns will significantly impact Ukraine or Russia?
This is outrageous! I’m just hearing about this as my friend is giving me a Molot Vepr for free when he moves back to his home country. This ban has not had any effect on Russia whatsoever in the past 2 years.
THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT I WAS EXPECTING TRUMP TO UNDUE THAT OSOMA OBAMA DID, WHICH HAS A DIRECT EFFECT ON ME! INSTEAD HE’S DOUBLING DOWN ON IT! THERE GOES MY PLAN TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY! I’LL JUST KEEP MY MONEY, TILL THIS BAN GOES AWAY!
The Federal Government is the American’s people’s biggest enemy. NOT RUSSIA, CHINA, NORTH KOREA, ISIS,ETC. WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY OUR FREEDOM, FUTURE PROSPERITY, OUR RIGHT TO HEALTH? Who has became enslaved to the banks both on a civilian and government level due to economic policies that is creating a worthless currency soon to be replaced by the IMO’S SDR’S that will bring the world’s central banks together to create the world’s official unelected government.
Back to the VEPR, don’t forget the Vepr is one of the semi auto rifles left that is made for that cheap steel core 7.62x54r military surplus, that would be a tatical advantage against body armor in the event of a up rising. What good do these bans do when we keep doing business with China that keeps claiming more territory; international waters, Taiwan, and soon Philippines when the next war breaks out. You need to ask yourself, why has China had access to our military secrets to build every major aspect of military in the last 40 YEARS and the government has never once addressed the concern? Why is the weapons ban embargo lifted under the Obama administration, who hated guns. Do you think Vietnam can afford high tect weaponry? Vietnam is just the middle man to give to China for mass manufacturer just like the rest of our military secrets. The U.S. is invaded from within by the globalist who want China to be the next superpower of the 21st century. Our military needs to question all levels of the Federal Government SERIOUSLY!!!!!
There are two flavors of Kool-Aid, the Lefty flavor, and that Prepper crap you are drinking. You are part of the problem, right along with the Libtards.
YOUR IGNORANCE IS PROFOUND! EVER HEARD OF THE BOY SCOUT MOTTO “ALWAYS BE PREPARED”. THAT’S WHAT A GOOD AMERICAN “CITIZEN” DOES. CIVILIANS ARE IRRESPONSIBLE TO THEMSELVES, SOCIETY AND THE NATION! HIS ANALYSIS WAS SPOT ON! YOURS WAS NOT! THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF AMERICANS; THE CITIZEN AND THE CIVILIAN! YOU ARE A CIVILIAN!
3 types of citizens. Sheep wolves and sheepdogs. Being prepared is like owning a fire extinguisher. Hoping you won’t ever need to use either
Apparently you have no understanding of fractional reserve banking. Read Thomas Paine on paper money. Was Thomas Paine a prepper or a patriot?
https://mises.org/library/thomas-paine-paper-money
Shut up.
If someone were to ask me how Democrats and Republicans differ on the Second Amendment, my answer would be Republicans will do away with it more slowly.
I ALWAYS SAID THAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS NOT IN THE DESTINATION, BUT THE ROUTE TRAVELED. THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO WIND UP IN THE SAME PLACE, JUST BY A LONGER ROUTE!
Is there any chance you could stop replying in ALL CAPS? That’s the equivalent of shouting, and automatically makes you a candidate for being ignored. Seriously, adults don’t have screaming matches straight from square 1.
1st rule: NEVER believe anything your government tells you 😉
What far too many responders here are misunderstanding that it is not the product being banned so much as it is the manufacturer… Russia\’s belligerent take-over of the Crimea from the Ukraine cannot be tolerated, which is why an embargo on Russian companies that contribute to that affair are being singled out… Years ago I bought a tremendously accurate Norinco bull-barrel .22-rifle.. It was discovered later hat this company is a front for the People\’s Republic of China\’s Peoples Army and that its manufacturing processes encourage human rights abuses. With the ban means that no spare parts are available for the rifle and once it breaks that\’s it. Gentlemen, there is much more at stake here than your selfish desire to own an imported rifle. I heartily endorse this ban if it helps to demonstrate our nation\’s resolve that Russia cannot act with impunity and without repercussions for its invasion and subsequent annexation of what rightfully belongs to another nation.
RUSSIAN MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS ARE GOOD QUALITY, CHEAP, AND LOWERS THE PRICE OF FIREARMS (OVERALL). BANNING THEM JUST MOVES MANUFACTURING ELSEWHERE AND WHERE THE COST IS HIGHER, QUALITY IS DIFFERENT, AND IT HELPS PUSH UP FIREARM PRICES IN GENERAL. IT’S AN INFLATIONARY EFFECT.
Victoria Nuland, Hillary Clinton’s / Obama’s State Department top diplomat for Europe conspired with the CIA to topple the democratic elected government of Ukraine resulting in an illegal coup carried out by Nazi fascist.
Oh shoot. I just sold a tricked out vepr 12 I use to use for 3 gun. Thanks Trumplethinskin.
Not Trump; It’s just another part of the Obama swamp.
They are garbage anyway.
Umm no they aren’t. Vepr’s are very high quality
FedGov needs all this Russia hate to justify a $650B “defense” (sic) budget.
This shit needs to stop before somebody gets hurt and/or broke.
NO. OSOMA OBAMA, ISLAM AND ILLEGALS ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THE MILITARY BUDGET!
I trust the TRUMP administration much more than OBAMA…. so I agree with their ban and I think we should respect their decision. If you buy one of these guns, you are supporting international thugs.. no different than the Chamber of Commerce wanting illegal immigration for cheap labor. You can find other choices… it is still a free country here.. We all need to stick together to support this President…. remember he did pick a great SCOTUS to help protect the 2nd!!
Your govt loves YOU and is banning you access to firearms, because they want to hurt Russia. lol Ask yourself, what other products (non firearm related) have now been banned from Russia?…(you know… to ‘hurt’ russia)
….. I’ll wait.
Dayum! I’ve been wanting a VEPR chambered in 7.62x54r. I guess i’ll scratch THAT one off the Christmas list. The bad news here? Depriving us access to these rifles will NOT make the Russkies do ANYTHING they don’t want to do. They do not take orders from us… This is some stupid shee-it.
I have been looking for a complete and affordable 7.62x54R parts kit to build at home for years and have yet to see one.
The closest I got was a partial armorers kit without the front trunnion, and that trunnion seems to be a rare as hens teeth!
Most readers here will have no clear understanding of what has been happening around the world since the end of WW2, but it is our western intelligence agencies that have designed these “color revolutions” all over the underdeveloped nations throughout Central and South America, the whole of Africa, and almost all Eastern European nations. Nothing is as it is presented within the media here. You’ve seen it your entire life, how these conflicts never seem to make sense… You’ve seen America losing the moral high-ground again and again, your conscience is revolting against these ridiculous premises that are popularized in a consolidated, corrupt media environment, owned by 6 parent companies, as well as the Department of Education, all directed by the Council on Foreign Relations to divide and dumb down our population. Again and again, tiny, extremist, militant separatists are presented as “freedom fighters” by the media, funded, armed, and “advised” by western intelligence agencies and private contractors to overthrow democratically elected leaders around the world…. All working at the behest of multinational corporate giants, and more importantly, the central banking CARTELS… The very same families who own our infamous Federal Reserve, a for-profit parasite… And the very same monsters who own the IMF, World Bank, and every other predatory lending institution on this planet. Everything else, all the window dressing seen on the 24 hour news networks, it’s all about distraction, division, and the absolute dumbing down of the population to allow these oligarchs to gain more profit and power. The silly, but sad narrative told about the situation in the Ukraine and Crimea, it is just more of the same. Consider the color revolution formula, Google the term, and go back through modern history, truly look at all of these conflicts, the suffering. It is overwhelming if you are a truly compassionate, patriotic human being…and you’ll find our true enemies. Listen to the whistle-blowers from inside this machine…read “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” by John Perkins, that is a good starting point. Or… If you have only a few minutes to consider it all, search the book title on YouTube, you’ll find brilliant, short overviews of this corrupt formula. Understand that our enemies are closer than you ever thought. I’m sure many will argue or troll this post, it’s okay, I expect it. Hopefully even just one person will finally begin to understand the true story of corruption and power that surrounds us. It is far more difficult to convince someone they have been lied to, than it is to convince them of a lie.
What you say is true but there is a lot more to it then that, most have not been around long enough to see the big picture. We, The People, are being ,set up, set up for a fall. The globalization tactics of all the super rich just want more of the same. They want all the money, all the power and want everyone to work and serve them. Take a close look at the electronics industry for one, almost all of today’s electronics from TV, Smart phones, computers, game console even your automobile can communicate information about you to whom ever wants this information. You can be tracked and hacked any where along the way if they want. Now with the reliance on all these electronic devices, guess what twill cripple the USA and it’s citizens? EMP! We could go on and on but many have no idea of the depth of what is happening and how long it has actually been going on!
Wow. An awake and aware post. Most here still think there’s a ‘war on terror’ and ‘ISIS is our enemy’ – not aware enough to know that all these ‘terror groups’ BELONG TO THE USA.
And ‘good ‘ol Trump’ – who’s 180’d on almost everything (including the 2nd Amendment, like here), has just sent our ‘Khaki Heroes’ into Syria…
TO SUPPORT ISIS.
I don’t know when Amerikans are going to wake up to the Real World. Most still think what they see and hear from MSM is ‘real’. I’ve traveled and lived around the world, and even the lowliest citizen in most foreign countries has a FAR better grasp of the truth of world events.
Hell – most Americans STILL think 9/11 was Islamic terrorists. That’s an amazing ‘holy crap’.
2 quotes:
“The US-Israeli-UK alliance (the real axis of evil) alone threatens world stability, peace, and perhaps survival” ~ Stephen Lendman
“The truth is, there is no Islamic army or terrorist group called Al Qaida, and any informed intelligence officer knows this. But there is a propaganda campaign to make the public believe in the presence of an identified entity representing the ‘devil’ only in order to drive the TV watcher to accept a unified international leadership for a war against terrorism. The country behind this propaganda is the U.S.”
~ Robin Cook, former British Foreign Secretary
Sure thing buddy. While Elvis Presley fiddles with Hitler in his escaped u boat while watching men land on the moon but actually an Arizona desert.
You conspiracy theorists are hilarious .
And btw..you obviously haven’t been anywhere to believe most of that BS.
Go and take your attitude to Afghanistan and let us know how well that works.
all moving along according to the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
That will do it. Ban guns that we might want to buy. Punish law abiding citizens.
No worries.
Some enterprising concern will begin to manufacture them here if there’s enough market demand.
Dang it!
I wish they would ban Russian cars instead of firearms!
What next, vodka?
So, is there anything to keep the Russian company from licensing a stateside manufacturer to build their guns here and sell them for a nice profit for both companies? or to change a couple of letters in the name of the company and go back to business as usual?
know this !& they still come in like drugs just more expensive
Got ours a few months ago and she’s a beauty….
I can only imagine that my American resellers will gouge me now that they are banned.
It’s called a free market and capitalism